For many recent college graduates, post-campus life has turned out to be no fun. They may have thought there would be little problem getting jobs in their chosen careers after they earned their degrees. But, in the middle of a spirit-crushing recession, their psyches have been served a dollop of disillusionment.
Colleges are facing heavy pressure today to better prepare their students to transition to the workforce. That pressure is justified given the cost of a college education today. (As the parent of a college student, I know this all too well.) And that's why many schools and students see the potential value internships can have in giving students an edge after graduation.
Businesses apparently recognize that too. More than three-quarters of employers that responded to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) said they prefer to hire people who have relevant work experience from internships.
The key phrase here is "relevant work experience," which means your internship needs to be more than just making copies and coffee, and fetching lunch for other workers.
If you're in college, recently graduated, or looking to do an internship as part of a midlife career change, here are three things you need to ask yourself about an internship opportunity:
- Will the internship give me experience similar to what I want to be doing in my first (or next) job?
- Will it give me valuable skills I can use in any job? For example: Proficiency in new software, navigating office politics, learning to work on a team-based project, organizing my workload, etc.
- Will I be working with seasoned professionals who can mentor me, perhaps teach me something about working in the business that I didn’t learn in school?
Be prepared to find out the answers during—if not before—your interview. Then, after you complete the internship, take stock of what you learned and document your newfound experience, skills, and accomplishments on your resume. It doesn’t matter that you were paid peanuts (or nothing at all) as long as you gained the “relevant work experience” employers want to see.
Did an internship help prepare you for your career? Tell us how in a comment below.
RELATED LINKS
Why and How to Find a Summer Internship
What Counts as Experience on a College Grad's Resume
Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of)
I am presently doing my internship with an excellent mentor and professional in the IT field and I must say that the experience I am gaining there is ,to the best of my knowledge, just what I need for that "relevant work experience" employers want to see. I see way too many interns not completing their internships and/or thinking it is not necessary or that it is boring, and it's a huge mistake!
@ Genaro -- Thanks for sharing your story, and showing how valuable an internship can be. That's especially important in IT, as employers are trying to fill more tech jobs.
Hi, I need some advice on internship. I have recently change career from Public Admin filed to IT. I have taken some training in my new field and really hands-on training. I feel like I know the enough basic but still want to go out and be the office environment to be more confident. What is the best way of getting an internship since i'm not an undergraduate, and my degree is not in IT.
Thanks!
A company may be more willing to hire an intern even though your degree is not in the same field due to the financial flexibility. Your situation can also be articulated in the cover letter and resume so that the employer knows your situation. Many job boards such as Monster.com, careerbuilder.com and indeed.com will assist in finding an internship in your area.